Effects of selenium supplementation on bull sperm metabolism in vitro

An in vitro study was conducted to examine the effects of direct supplementation of diluted semen with sodium selenite on the metabolism of bovine sperm. Selenium (Se) supplementation increased the percent motility yet did not affect the percent viability of the sperm. An increase in the oxygen consumed by the sperm was associated with the increase in sperm motility. Both the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and total adenyl nucleotide (TN) concentrations were lowered by supplementing the sperm with Se. Although changes occurred in the adenyl nucleotide pool of the Se-supplemented sperm, these changes were not reflected in the energy charge. There was no difference in the energy charge between the Se-supplemented and unsupplemented sperm. The metabolic changes caused by Se were in vitro and occurred in a short interval of time, suggesting a catalytic effect as opposed to an enzymatic effect.